Revelation 21:10, 22--22:5
And in the spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God.
I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
Reflection
God takes care of it all for us. We believe and trust in God. God gives us all we need. God is our light in the darkness. God is our Light and the source of life. Even the waters that combine with the light all flow from God. God takes care of it all for us.
In this passage as in a passage from Ezekiel, heaven comes to earth. Heaven comes down to us here and in Jesus. Jesus was and is heaven on earth. In this heaven there is no need for a temple and the Holy of Holies, that place where God dwells. Jesus dwells on earth as well as now the Holy Spirit dwells on earth. A piece of heaven is with us now. The temple is not needed because God is with us here and now.
In this heaven on earth we witness the great creation of God. We look and stand today in awe of God's creation and the depth of it all along with the far reaching effects creation has on everything we see, touch and smell. But God in heaven will make the creation we observe today pale in comparison. God will be the source of all light. God will make all things grow. Jesus presence here on earth makes the creation look like nothing.
Oh the fountain of the water of life. The source of all life flowing from God. Water that brings healing. Sin is no more. All is life and creation, that feeds that wonderful tree of life. A tree that makes me think of the wood that Jesus was crucified upon. Jesus' tree was a tree of death by human standards, but by God's standards, that cross became a tree of life. A tree that Jesus hung upon to bring healing to the nations. A tree that was fed from Jesus blood and the water of Jesus eternal love for all the world.
From Jesus upon this tree fed by the water of God and highlighted by the Light of God we see heaven. We see a life free from curse. Jesus took upon himself our curse and came out the victor. And we see the face of Jesus. I remember a friend of mine when stating what he wanted to see when he got to heaven state boldly, "I want to see Jesus!" His words echo in my mind a like desire I have.
Yet, even today, I see Jesus. I see Jesus in the eyes and actions of many people acting out their faith and belief in God. I see Jesus demonstrated in the love of creation. But, to think, what I see next, in heaven will be clear and unmistakable, draws me into God. For on that heavenly day God will take care of it all.
Prayer
Lord, in the words of a friend... "I want to see Jesus!"... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
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